Do you think you bought an expensive auto insurance policy? Don’t sweat it because you’re not alone. People have multiple auto insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s nice to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates and find the lowest cost auto insurance.
Finding the lowest cost auto insurance coverage in Barnwell is not that difficult. Essentially anyone who has to buy auto insurance will be able to lower their premiums. Although South Carolina car owners can benefit from knowing how big insurance companies price insurance differently because it can help you find the best coverage.
Auto insurance quotes comparison
Many insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate and Geico allow consumers to get pricing directly from their websites. Getting prices online is very simple because you just enter into the quote form. After you complete the form, the company’s rating system pulls your credit score and driving record and quotes a price based on the information you submitted. Online price quotes makes comparing rates easy, but the time it takes to visit a lot of sites and type in your information is a waste of time. But it’s also necessary to compare as many rates as possible in order to get the lowest price.
Online rates the easy way
The quickest way to compare auto insurance pricing utilizes a single form that analyzes rates from a bunch of companies at once. This type of form saves time, requires much less work on your part, and makes comparison shopping much more efficient. Immediately after submitting the form, it is rated with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the pricing results.
If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can click and sign and purchase coverage. This process takes just a few minutes to complete and you’ll know if lower rates are available.
To compare rates using this form now, click here to open in a new tab and input your coverage information. To compare your current rates, we recommend you input deductibles and limits just like they are on your policy. Doing this guarantees you will be getting a fair comparison using the same coverage and limits.
Auto insurance in the media
Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and Geico seem to constantly run television and radio advertisements. They all seem to advertise claims that you’ll save big after switching your coverage to them. How does every company cost less than your current company? This is how they do it.
Most companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a profitable insured should be between 25 and 40, has other policies, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Anybody that matches those criteria will probably get cheap car insurance rates as well as save a lot if they switch.
Potential insureds who do not fit this ideal profile will be charged a higher premium and this can result in the customer buying from a different company. If you listen closely, the ads state “customers that switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” can get the lowest rates when switching. That is how insurance companies can make claims like that.
Because of this risk profiling, you really need to compare often. You cannot predict which insurance companies will have the lowest prices for your situation.
Discounts can really help lower premiums
Some insurance providers do not list every disount available in a way that’s easy to find, so the below list has a few of the more common and the harder-to-find credits available to bring down your rates.
- Distant Student Discount – Youth drivers who live away from home to go to college and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
- Data Collection Discounts – People who choose to allow their auto insurance company to track their driving habits by installing a telematics device like Allstate’s Drivewise could see a rate decrease if they show good driving skills.
- Life Insurance – Larger auto insurance companies have lower auto insurancerates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
- First Accident Forgiveness – Not really a discount, but companies like Liberty Mutual, Allstate and State Farm will turn a blind eye to one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Discount for Good Grades – Being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars and trucks with ABS braking systems or traction control are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Accident-Free Discounts – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially as opposed to bad drivers.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving less can qualify you for discounted premium rates on garaged vehicles.
- Discount for New Cars – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper because newer models keep occupants safer.
- Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle up may be able to save a few bucks on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
Please keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the appearance that you would end up receiving a 100% discount, that’s just not realistic.
To locate providers that offer the discounts shown above in South Carolina, click here.
Different people need different auto insurance coverages
When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether you might need professional guidance.
- Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in South Carolina?
- Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
- Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
- Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
- Is South Carolina a no-fault state?
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.
Compare rate quotes but work with a local Barnwell insurance agency
Some people just want to visit with an insurance agent and that is not a bad decision One of the benefits of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that drivers can get lower car insurance rates and still choose a local agent. And supporting neighborhood agents is especially important in Barnwell.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is immediately sent to insurance agents in Barnwell who will return price quotes for your business. You won’t need to contact any agents as quotes are delivered to your email. You can find the lowest rates without having to waste a lot of time. If for some reason you want to compare rates from one company in particular, you just need to jump over to their website and fill out their quote form.
If you prefer to buy auto insurance from a local insurance agency, it helps to know the two types of insurance agents and how they function. Auto insurance agents can be classified as either independent agents or captive agents.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies
Independent agents do not sell for just one brand and that is an advantage because they can write policies with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If prices rise, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rate quotes, you will definitely want to compare quotes from several independent agencies in order to compare the most rates.
Below is a small list of independent agents in Barnwell that can possibly get you competitive price quotes.
Jack H KEEL Insurance Inc – 505 Reynolds Rd – Barnwell, SC 29812 – (803) 259-3672
Lancaster Insurance – 118 Main St – Barnwell, SC 29812 – (803) 541-4210
Captive Insurance Agencies
These agents generally can only insure with one company such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm. They generally cannot compare rates from other companies so they have to upsell other benefits. Captives are very knowledgeable on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.
Finding the right auto insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the price. These are valid questions to ask:
- Will you get a loaner vehicle if you car is being repaired?
- Is the agent properly licensed in South Carolina?
- How many companies do they write for?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
- What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Is coverage determined by price?
Coverages available on your policy
Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverages found on most auto insurance policies.
Auto liability
Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have limits of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability insurance covers things like repair costs for stationary objects, attorney fees, pain and suffering and structural damage. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy higher limits if possible. South Carolina state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.
UM/UIM Coverage
This coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (25/50/25 in South Carolina), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is very important. Frequently the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Comprehensive or Other Than Collision
This covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like hitting a bird, falling objects, damage from a tornado or hurricane and a broken windshield. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Collision coverage
Collision coverage covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against things like scraping a guard rail, colliding with another moving vehicle, backing into a parked car, driving through your garage door and crashing into a ditch. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Medical costs insurance
Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for bills such as nursing services, hospital visits, surgery, pain medications and EMT expenses. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states and may carry a deductible
Online plus local equals savings
There are still a few companies who don’t offer rate quotes online and usually these regional carriers work with local independent agencies. More affordable auto insurance is possible on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money.
You just learned many ideas to compare auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like State Farm, Geico and Nationwide.
To learn even more about auto insurance
Additional auto insurance information is located on the website for the South Carolina Department of Insurance through this link. South Carolina consumers can learn about specific coverages, learn about insurance regulations, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.